New Delhi: Lovely Professional University (LPU) has suspended classes for 10 days and postponed its midterm examinations indefinitely following student protests and violence on its Phagwara campus over an allegation that an outsider raped a female student.
The university has allowed students to return home during the break after consulting their parents or guardians. Those staying on campus have been advised to remain inside their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement or participation in any unrest, citing safety concerns.
The decision followed a prolonged protest on Sunday, when hundreds of students blocked a section of National Highway-44 outside the university for more than 15 hours. Students were demanding action over the alleged rape, which they claimed took place on the university premises. The university, however, described reports of the incident occurring on campus as “rumours”.
Police said a rape case had been registered against an unidentified person based on a complaint by students and that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the allegation.
The highway blockade was cleared during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said. He said the situation was under control and remained peaceful.
Tensions escalated on Sunday evening when protesters allegedly pelted stones at police personnel and damaged police vehicles, injuring several personnel, according to officials. Police had been attempting to clear the highway blockade, which had continued since around 8 am, when some students allegedly threw water bottles at them.
Police subsequently used a lathi charge, following which protesters moved towards the campus, officials said. Once inside the university premises, some protesters allegedly continued stone-pelting.
A heavy police force led by ADGP M.F. Farooqui entered the campus late Sunday night, followed by a flag march involving senior officers and other personnel. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh, DIG (Jalandhar Range) Naveen Singla and Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora were among the officers present.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised the reported use of force against students and accused the Punjab government of failing to maintain law and order. He also appealed to students to protest peacefully and seek accountability through lawful means.
The LPU protests came a day after a separate incident at Chitkara University in Patiala, where students allegedly set a police vehicle on fire following unverified claims that two female students had died by suicide on the university premises.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed protesters at LPU damaging window panes and flower pots and setting some objects on fire while raising slogans demanding justice. The authenticity and context of individual social media videos could not be independently established from the report
